Moving your business premises can be one of the most stressful periods for any company. While you’re coordinating removals, updating addresses, and managing staff logistics, there’s one crucial element that often gets overlooked until the last minute: your internet connection. Getting your business broadband sorted properly when moving premises isn’t just about staying connected – it’s about maintaining productivity, keeping customers happy, and ensuring your operations run smoothly from day one in your new location.
The reality is that many businesses experience costly downtime simply because they didn’t plan their broadband transfer properly. With the right approach, you can avoid disruption and might even upgrade to better connectivity in the process.
Planning Your Business Broadband Move
The key to a successful broadband transition lies in early planning. Start researching your options at least 8-12 weeks before your planned move date. This might seem excessive, but business broadband installations often take longer than expected, particularly if your new premises requires infrastructure upgrades or you’re moving to a rural location.
Begin by checking what services are available at your new address. Use Openreach’s postcode checker or contact providers directly to understand the maximum speeds and connection types available. Some business parks have dedicated fibre networks, while others might be limited to standard ADSL connections. Knowing these limitations early helps you make informed decisions about your new location and gives you time to explore alternatives if needed.
Consider your future bandwidth requirements carefully. Moving premises presents an opportunity to reassess your connectivity needs. Factor in potential business growth, increased cloud usage, video conferencing requirements, and any new technologies you plan to implement. What seems adequate today might become insufficient within months of your move.
Document your current setup thoroughly. List all services you currently use, including internet speeds, phone lines, static IP addresses, and any special configurations. This information becomes crucial when discussing options with new providers and ensures you don’t accidentally lose important services during the transition.
Key Considerations When Moving Business Premises
Location plays a massive role in determining your broadband options. Urban areas typically offer multiple providers and faster connection types, including full-fibre services. Rural locations might be more limited, with some areas still relying on slower ADSL connections. Research the digital infrastructure in your target area before committing to a new premises.
Building type affects installation complexity and costs. Modern business parks often have pre-installed ducting and connection points, making setup straightforward. Older buildings might require significant work to install business-grade connections, particularly if you need dedicated lines or specific service level agreements.
Consider the existing telecommunications infrastructure carefully. Some premises come with established connections that new tenants can take over, potentially saving time and money. Others might require completely new installations, which can take several weeks or even months in complex cases.
Think about redundancy and backup options early in your planning. Business-critical operations often require backup internet connections to maintain service during outages. Your new location should accommodate multiple connection types or providers to ensure continuity.
Budget for setup costs beyond just monthly fees. New installations often include connection charges, equipment costs, and potential infrastructure work. Some providers offer free installation deals, but these might come with longer contract terms or higher monthly fees. Calculate the total cost over your intended contract period to make fair comparisons.
Transferring Your Existing Business Broadband Contract
If you’re happy with your current provider, transferring your existing contract to your new premises might be the simplest option. Contact your provider as early as possible to discuss relocation options. Most major business broadband providers offer relocation services, though the process and costs vary significantly.
Understand the technical requirements for transfer. Your existing connection type might not be available at your new location, requiring a different service. For example, if you currently have a leased line but your new premises only supports fibre-to-the-cabinet services, you’ll need to adjust your expectations and possibly your applications.
Check for relocation fees and contract implications. Some providers charge for relocating services, particularly if significant new infrastructure is required. Others might require you to sign a new contract term, potentially losing any negotiated rates or flexible terms from your existing agreement.
Timing coordination becomes crucial during transfers. You’ll want to maintain service at your old location until you’re confident the new connection is working properly. Most providers can arrange overlap periods, though this might involve additional costs. Plan for at least a week of parallel service to handle any unexpected issues.
Be prepared for potential service changes. Your new location might not support the exact same service configuration you currently have. Static IP addresses might change, bandwidth might differ, and service level agreements could be adjusted based on the new location’s infrastructure capabilities.
Setting Up New Business Broadband at Your New Location
Starting fresh with a new provider often provides opportunities for better deals and improved service. Research all available providers at your new location, including national companies and local specialists. Don’t assume your current provider offers the best option for your new address.
Compare not just prices but service features that matter to your business. Upload speeds become increasingly important as businesses rely more on cloud services and video conferencing. Service level agreements determine how quickly faults get resolved, which could be critical for your operations. Customer support quality varies significantly between providers and can make a huge difference when you need help.
Request detailed quotes from multiple providers, ensuring you’re comparing like-for-like services. Pay attention to contract lengths, early termination fees, and price change policies. Some providers offer discounted rates for the first year but increase prices significantly afterward.
Consider installation timeframes carefully. Standard business broadband typically takes 10-20 working days to install, but complex requirements might take longer. Dedicated connections like leased lines can require 6-12 weeks or more. Factor these timeframes into your moving schedule and have backup plans ready.
Negotiate package deals if you need multiple services. Many providers offer discounts for bundling broadband with phone lines, mobile contracts, or IT support services. These packages can provide cost savings and simplify your supplier relationships.
Types of Business Broadband Available for Relocation
Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) represents the most common business broadband option across the UK. These connections typically offer download speeds up to 80Mbps with upload speeds around 20Mbps. FTTC provides good value for most small to medium businesses and is widely available in urban and suburban areas.
Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) delivers faster speeds directly to your building via dedicated fibre cables. These connections can provide symmetrical speeds of 100Mbps or higher, making them ideal for businesses with heavy cloud usage or video conferencing requirements. FTTP availability continues expanding across the UK but remains limited in some rural areas.
Leased lines offer dedicated, uncontended connections with guaranteed speeds and premium support. These services cost significantly more than shared connections but provide consistent performance and comprehensive service level agreements. Consider leased lines if your business depends heavily on internet connectivity or handles sensitive data requiring secure connections.
Ethernet-first-mile (EFM) connections bond multiple copper lines to provide higher speeds and improved reliability. EFM works well in locations where fibre options are limited but multiple phone lines are available. These services typically offer speeds up to 20Mbps with good reliability characteristics.
4G and 5G business solutions provide wireless connectivity that can serve as primary connections in areas with limited fixed-line options or as backup services for critical operations. Mobile broadband solutions have improved significantly and can now handle substantial business requirements, particularly in areas with strong mobile coverage.
Comparing Business Broadband Providers for Moves
BT Business remains the largest provider with extensive infrastructure coverage across the UK. Their services range from standard FTTC to high-end leased lines, with comprehensive support options. BT often provides good coverage in rural areas where other providers might be limited.
Sky Business offers competitive pricing on standard broadband services with straightforward packages and pricing. They focus on smaller businesses and provide good value for companies with modest connectivity requirements.
Plusnet Business specialises in business services with strong customer support and transparent pricing. They offer flexible contract terms and honest advice about service capabilities, making them popular with businesses that value straightforward relationships.
Virgin Media Business provides high-speed cable services in their coverage areas, often delivering faster speeds than standard fibre options. Their network coverage is more limited but excellent where available.
Zen Internet focuses on quality service and customer support, often receiving high ratings for technical support and service reliability. They offer a range of business services from standard broadband to complex enterprise solutions.
Local and specialist providers often offer personalised service and competitive pricing in specific regions. Research smaller providers in your new area, as they might offer better value or more flexible terms than national companies.
Minimising Downtime During Your Move
Overlap your old and new connections whenever possible. Arrange for your new broadband to be installed and tested before disconnecting your old service. This approach costs more initially but protects against extended downtime if problems occur with your new connection.
Prepare temporary solutions for potential delays. Mobile hotspots, temporary 4G routers, or portable Wi-Fi devices can keep essential operations running if your main connection experiences problems. Ensure these backup options have sufficient data allowances for your needs.
Test everything thoroughly before relying on your new connection. Check all applications, VPN connections, email services, and any cloud-based systems your business uses. Some services might need reconfiguring for your new IP address or connection type.
Communicate timeline expectations clearly with your team. Ensure everyone understands when the transition will happen and what backup procedures are in place. Consider scheduling your move for a weekend or quiet period to minimise business impact.
Plan for potential complications by building buffer time into your schedule. Technical issues, delayed installations, or configuration problems can extend transition periods. Having extra time built into your moving schedule prevents these issues from disrupting your business operations.
Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After Your Move
Before your move, contact your current provider to discuss options and timelines. Research new location infrastructure capabilities and available providers. Compare quotes from multiple suppliers and check contract terms carefully. Arrange installation appointments well in advance and confirm technical requirements.
Order any necessary equipment early, including routers, switches, or phone systems that might need configuring. Update your business address with all online accounts and services that might be affected by IP address changes. Inform customers and suppliers about potential connectivity disruptions during your transition.
During your move, test all connections thoroughly before declaring them operational. Verify internet access, email functionality, VPN connections, and any specialist applications your business relies on. Check phone services if you’re bundling communications with your broadband.
Keep contact details readily available for technical support from your new provider. Document any issues you encounter and maintain records of test results for reference. Don’t disconnect your old service until you’re confident your new connection is working properly.
After your move, monitor your new connection’s performance over the first few weeks. Some issues only become apparent under normal business loads or during peak usage periods. Update your business listings and contact information across all platforms and directories.
Review your service after a month or two of normal operations. Ensure the connection meets your business needs and investigate any persistent issues with your provider. Consider whether your new setup adequately supports your business requirements or if additional services might be beneficial.
Remember that choosing the right business broadband for your move involves balancing cost, performance, reliability, and support quality. Take time to research your options thoroughly and don’t hesitate to ask providers detailed questions about their services and support capabilities.
